There is little question that, on paper at least, this year’s offense should be a significant improvement over last year’s edition. Tosh obviously spent a lot of time recruiting players who could shore up the weaknesses in last year’s team. I am cautiously optimistic that JKS will get better protection from the projected players on the OL and am convinced that he will potentially have a much more lethal receiving corps than he had last year, which with his level of talent is absolutely critical— if the receivers can’t catch or get open, his generational talent is wasted. Perhaps even more importantly, Cal may actually have a running game this year, something that was barely apparent last year and is absolutely necessary to complement the passing game built around JKS. If the new running back corps can become a true offensive threat, when combined with what we expect to be a very productive passing attack, Cal will be in position to have one of the most exciting football seasons that we’ve seen in many years. I don’t expect an “Indiana Miracle” but I’d sure like to see some great Cal football played in CMS this year!
Agree with all of this, Nick. I believe our CEILING is much higher, but I have no idea how much of that potential we can tap in Y1 of the new staff. Their total inexperience at their new positions ends with the first whistle.
We have to simultaneously build for both a marathon and a sprint. And I think we're doing that based on our next recruiting class (usual caveats about 18yo decision making apply).
If our run game can rank around 50 in the country plus a couple more made FGs, I’m thinking that a 10 win season is a reasonable possibility? We won 7 with second worst run game last year.
Thanks Nick...two instant reactions. First, I think you've beautifully shown why we are right to expect significant improvement, while at the same time there are new variables at play that make it imperative that we temper our expectations. So many moving pieces.
Second, the fact that success this year in football has now been elevated to a moral imperative makes my heart sing. Go Bears Forever Baby!
Intriguing write-up regarding carryover and new talent, knowns and unknowns, but no mention of freshman coach Tosh Lupoi and the winning culture he brings to Cal. This will all be tested, of course, which makes the dawn of a new era in Cal football so very exciting. Go Bears!!!
This year's Cal team is leaps and bounds better than last year. It says a lot that many of the underclassmen of last years team have already transferred out. Once Tosh got hired, they knew he was going to clean house. It was either transfer for playing time or lose their starting spot to better players; with the exception of Cade Ulave. I wish he stayed but I wish him success. I look forward to seeing him in the NFL.
I am looking forward to this season and every season that Tosh is in charge. Will he be better than Jeff Tedford? I honestly think so but we will see.
As an aside, GoldenBear68 has a spot on analysis. A beefed up WR core will open the box for a decent RB to exploit. Are these backs on the level of Lynch, Best or Vereen? No but, with this squad, they don't have to be.
Well done! The TE room is top 10 in college football; don't forget Purcell too. I fear that the drop-off for QB2 is massive. Protect JKS at all costs; he has to protect himself as well: throw away, slide, etc. It always seems to come back to the O-line, but I believe they can do it.
Obviously OL play will dictate how far this offense goes, the other pieces look fantastic. To me the program's recent (read: since Tedford) OL struggles were institutional--admin cheaped out on physical development resources, which are especially important for lineman. That's being addressed now, but it might take a few years to fix. Tosh's LOS background should help a bit, but unlike DL there aren't several transfers able to plug holes right away. I'm still cautiously optimistic, not like these guys need to be the Hogs or anything.
Aaron Rodgers was so long ago—but I think he was a decent scrambler for us, and became quite a good scrambler as a pro. I hope that means that scrambling ability can be learned, because JKS could be a lot better in that area.
There is little question that, on paper at least, this year’s offense should be a significant improvement over last year’s edition. Tosh obviously spent a lot of time recruiting players who could shore up the weaknesses in last year’s team. I am cautiously optimistic that JKS will get better protection from the projected players on the OL and am convinced that he will potentially have a much more lethal receiving corps than he had last year, which with his level of talent is absolutely critical— if the receivers can’t catch or get open, his generational talent is wasted. Perhaps even more importantly, Cal may actually have a running game this year, something that was barely apparent last year and is absolutely necessary to complement the passing game built around JKS. If the new running back corps can become a true offensive threat, when combined with what we expect to be a very productive passing attack, Cal will be in position to have one of the most exciting football seasons that we’ve seen in many years. I don’t expect an “Indiana Miracle” but I’d sure like to see some great Cal football played in CMS this year!
So true; a run game would help immensely
Agree with all of this, Nick. I believe our CEILING is much higher, but I have no idea how much of that potential we can tap in Y1 of the new staff. Their total inexperience at their new positions ends with the first whistle.
We have to simultaneously build for both a marathon and a sprint. And I think we're doing that based on our next recruiting class (usual caveats about 18yo decision making apply).
If our run game can rank around 50 in the country plus a couple more made FGs, I’m thinking that a 10 win season is a reasonable possibility? We won 7 with second worst run game last year.
Thanks Nick...two instant reactions. First, I think you've beautifully shown why we are right to expect significant improvement, while at the same time there are new variables at play that make it imperative that we temper our expectations. So many moving pieces.
Second, the fact that success this year in football has now been elevated to a moral imperative makes my heart sing. Go Bears Forever Baby!
Intriguing write-up regarding carryover and new talent, knowns and unknowns, but no mention of freshman coach Tosh Lupoi and the winning culture he brings to Cal. This will all be tested, of course, which makes the dawn of a new era in Cal football so very exciting. Go Bears!!!
This year's Cal team is leaps and bounds better than last year. It says a lot that many of the underclassmen of last years team have already transferred out. Once Tosh got hired, they knew he was going to clean house. It was either transfer for playing time or lose their starting spot to better players; with the exception of Cade Ulave. I wish he stayed but I wish him success. I look forward to seeing him in the NFL.
I am looking forward to this season and every season that Tosh is in charge. Will he be better than Jeff Tedford? I honestly think so but we will see.
As an aside, GoldenBear68 has a spot on analysis. A beefed up WR core will open the box for a decent RB to exploit. Are these backs on the level of Lynch, Best or Vereen? No but, with this squad, they don't have to be.
Well done! The TE room is top 10 in college football; don't forget Purcell too. I fear that the drop-off for QB2 is massive. Protect JKS at all costs; he has to protect himself as well: throw away, slide, etc. It always seems to come back to the O-line, but I believe they can do it.
No mention of Purcell because this is was done awhile ago? or he's hurt?
Obviously OL play will dictate how far this offense goes, the other pieces look fantastic. To me the program's recent (read: since Tedford) OL struggles were institutional--admin cheaped out on physical development resources, which are especially important for lineman. That's being addressed now, but it might take a few years to fix. Tosh's LOS background should help a bit, but unlike DL there aren't several transfers able to plug holes right away. I'm still cautiously optimistic, not like these guys need to be the Hogs or anything.
Thanks Nick!! Great article.
I’m so pumped for a post-Wilcoxian era of Cal football. Everything is different.
LFG!!!
Aaron Rodgers was so long ago—but I think he was a decent scrambler for us, and became quite a good scrambler as a pro. I hope that means that scrambling ability can be learned, because JKS could be a lot better in that area.
GO BEARS!!!
So what does under center mean for our largely unchanged OL. Do they have to hold blocks even longer or what
At least we don’t have to deal with those horrible snaps??
Such a drive killer!